Rep. Ing Sponsors Legislation for Minimum Wage Increase to $15

State Representative Kaniela Ing (D-South Maui), is sponsoring legislation to increase Hawaiʻi’s minimum wage to $15 by 2019 and $22 by 2022.

The bill will also tie the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index and eliminates the exemption for tipped employees.

Ing says the bill will be the nation’s most progressive “living wage” law, and encompasses the spirit of the grassroots Fight for $15 movement.

“Hawaiʻi is the most expensive state in the nation. Other high cost of living states and cities like Seattle, California, and New York have already passed $15 minimum wage laws,” said Ing.

“Working families are struggling, so we as legislators have a moral obligation to act. The evidence shows that raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour is the single most impactful policy for Hawaiʻi’s most vulnerable,” said Rep. Ing.

Ing said that jurisdictions that have already won their “Fight for $15” are seeing businesses thrive, new restaurants open, and reduced income inequality. Hawaiʻi is late to the party, and we need the raise desperately.

“I expect various big-money special interests to oppose the bill, but my hope is that empirical facts, popular opinion, and baseline morality will in prevail in the end,” he said.